Warriors of Poseidon 03 - Atlantis Unleashed

can‟t disagree,” Conlan said. “Perhaps, for now, we should focus on what direction we can take in this battle, rather than flailing at the actions of gods.”
    Tiernan gasped a little. “Are you saying that Anubisa is actually a goddess? And by Poseidon, do you mean the mythical sea god?” She narrowed her eyes. “I came to you about a real problem, with real information about your friend, expecting real help. Is this your idea of a joke? Let‟s feed fairy tales to the human?”
    Alexios swept his arm out in a gesture encompassing the room in which they stood. “You‟re in Atlantis, Tiernan Butler. The mythical lost continent of Atlantis, as your kind likes to call it. Do you really want to discount the existence of the sea god when you stand in his realm, far beneath the surface of the oceans?”
    Tiernan opened her mouth as if to respond but then snapped it shut. After a moment she grinned, and a flash of the carefree woman she might have been in easier times shone out at them. “You do have a point.”
    Then her smile faded. “Your other friend . . . the one who went kind of crazy in Boston. Is he okay?”
    Alexios looked to Conlan, who nodded. “Brennan is fine and has no memory of any uncharacteristic behavior. We find that we must keep him some distance from you, however, since there is clearly something about you to which he is reacting . . . adversely.”
    “Gosh, you boys sure talk pretty,” she drawled, eyes sharp. “Reacting adversely. Interesting way to put it.”
    “We don‟t have the time to explore it now, even if we had the inclination,” Ven snapped.
    “Brennan stays away from you. You stay in Atlantis while we check you out.”
    Before she could utter the protest that was so clearly forming on her lips, Ven shot a wicked smile her way. “Fact-check, fact-check, fact-check, right? From your lips to my ears.”
    “Fine,” she said flatly. “I guess I‟ll agree, since I don‟t really have any other options. I don‟t even know how we got here, and your castle staff aren‟t exactly forthcoming to the human prisoner.”
    “You are our guest, Lady Tiernan,” Conlan said, and once again the royal bearing was in evidence. “Not our prisoner.
    But we would be remiss if we did not verify your story, as you yourself do understand. Give us a few days, and we‟ll return you to Boston to continue your work.”
    “If you‟re telling the truth,” Alexios felt compelled to add.
    “Truth. Always truth, shining in the shifting sands of nuance, intent, and deception,” Tiernan murmured, staring off into the distance. “I tell the truth in ways you wouldn‟t even believe, Atlantean.”
    A shiver snaked across Alexios‟s spine. Definitely something off about Tiernan Butler.
    Perhaps something they should investigate.
    Conlan inclined his head. “We hope that is the case, for all of our sakes. If vampires have progressed to actual human brain-pattern destruction, then we must step up our response.”
    The prince bent his head to study the map again. “Perhaps you will have your Pulitzer yet.”
    Tiernan began to respond, but Alexios had recognized the dismissal in Conlan‟s words. “If you‟ll come with me, Tiernan, I‟m sure we can find you a comfortable—”
    “Erin wants to see her,” Ven interrupted. “She‟s at the Temple and said she‟d give Tiernan the tour.”
    “Temple?” Tiernan‟s eyes brightened with what Alexios was beginning to recognize as journalistic zeal. “What Temple?”
    “The Temple of the Nereids,” Alexios said, gesturing to the door. “More of those mythological beings you were talking about earlier.”
    As she fired questions at him, Alexios managed to herd her toward the door. He held it open for her to exit before him and then turned back toward Conlan and Ven. “I stand ready, for whatever you decide.”
    They nodded in unison, looking in that moment more like identical twins than mere brothers.
    “We know,” Conlan said. “As soon as Alaric returns, we‟ll plot out our next steps.”
    “Justice first,” Ven said, and the determination in his voice had the resonance of a vow.
    “Then Anubisa and the Apostates.”
    Alexios nodded, in total agreement with that plan. He pulled the door shut behind himself and went to rescue the guards from Tiernan‟s interrogation, repeating the vow in his mind.
    Justice first, and justice second.
    Even the reporter would like that. It had the ring of a front-page headline.

Chapter